How to quilt top a guitar

How to quilt top a guitar

How to quilt top a guitar is a very important to musicians. Guitar tops have a different shape than the soundboard, which is the area of the guitar where the strings are. A guitar top’s shape is more square, with more pronounced edges and corners. The thickness of a guitar top is also thinner than that of a soundboard. Consequently, guitars should be constructed with these differences in mind. A guitar top is typically made from either spruce or cedar wood. After you select your wood, you need to mark out your pieces. You will need to cut out two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm).

The next step is to divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width.

Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side.

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What are guitar tops?

Guitar tops have a different shape than the soundboard, which is the area of the guitar where the strings are. A guitar top’s shape is more square, with more pronounced edges and corners. The thickness of a guitar top is also thinner than that of a soundboard. Consequently, guitars should be constructed with these differences in mind.

A guitar top is typically made from either spruce or cedar wood. After you select your wood, you need to mark out your pieces. You will need to cut out two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm).

The next step is to divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – every 4 inches (10 cm). This will enable you to create eight small rectangles on both sides of your piece. Once this has been done, lay one side over the other and put marks on where they intersect so that you know what goes where when it comes time to attach them together. Finally, cut off any excess material around those intersections and sand down all surfaces until they are smooth

The guitar top’s shape and thickness

The shape of a guitar top is different than that of a soundboard, which is the area where the strings are. A guitar top’s shape is more square with more pronounced edges and corners. The thickness of a guitar top is also thinner than that of a soundboard. Consequently, guitars should be constructed with these differences in mind.

A guitar top is typically made from either spruce or cedar wood, although other types may be used as well. After you select your wood, you need to mark out your pieces on the wood. You will need to cut out two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm).

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The next step is to divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – so that there are four squares in total for each piece.

Now it’s time for cross-banding strips! Cross-banding strips can be made from any kind of wood but they need to have a width twice as wide as theirs length; this means they should measure at least 2 inches wide by 1 inch long (5 cm wide by 2.5 cm long). To start, sand down all four sides on one of

How to select your wood

When selecting wood for a guitar top, the main considerations are the type of sound you want your guitar to produce and the quality of the wood. Spruce is a good choice if you’re looking for high-quality sound, while cedar produces a warmer tone.

If you’re not sure what types of woods would be best for your desired sound, you can use this chart to find which woods typically produce certain sounds:

Body Type Wood Sound

Lap Steel Guitar Sitka Spruce

Dreadnought Guitar Douglas Fir or Western Red Cedar

Jumbo Guitar Redwood

Grand Auditorium Guitar Western Red Cedar or Eastern Red Cedar

Guitar Amps Spruce or Honduran Mahogany

Cutting out your pieces

The first thing to do is cut out two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm). The next step is to divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – so that you have 8 equal squares in total. This is where you will attach your cross-banding strips.

To start, cut a strip of wood that measures 2x6x14 inches (5 x 15 x 36 cm). Then drill a hole that goes through the middle of it with a 3/4 inch bit. This will now be your cross-banding strip which you’ll use to connect the corners of your guitar top together. Now take another 2x6x14 inch (5 x 15 x 36 cm) board and drill holes in it as well, going in both directions. With this board, drill four holes into one side and then rotate it 180 degrees so that when drilled again it’s opposite from before. These are now your string ties – use them to attach your strings from the soundboard to the guitar top, running through all eight square holes in order.

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How to divide your pieces

The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – that are 4 inches (10 cm) long.

When your top is divided into four pieces, you will need to cut out the corners at a 45 degree angle. You can use a ruler or something similar to create straight lines. When you are done with the corners, you can turn over all of your pieces so that they are inside-out and then start cross-banding them together.

Cross banding is when you connect two strips of wood together at 90 degree angles to form a square shape. Cross-banding also strengthens your guitar top, making it more durable and resistant to cracking.

After cross-banding, you will take your sides and flip them so the pieces with the cross-bands on them face outward and then glue them together by placing some glue in between each strip of wood on both inside edges of the guitar top. The next step is to glue these pieces onto the soundboard as this will strengthen it as well as provide stability for the guitar strings.

First division of each piece

– Measure 4 inches (10 cm) from the opposite corner and cut diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width.

– Cut these strips of wood into smaller pieces, which will be the cross-banding strips that attach to the top.

Second divisions of each piece

The second divisions should each be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width.

Once you have completed these steps, you will have four smaller squares for cross-banding strips to attach to them.

You will need to cut out two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm). The next step is to divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – The second divisions should each be done by measuring 4 inches (10cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30cm) width. Once you have completed these steps, you will have four smaller squares for cross-banding strips to attach to them.

Third divisions of each piece

The third divisions involve cutting down the middle of each side, starting at the first diagonal cut you made and going straight to the opposite corner.

Now that you have your guitar top pieces cut out, it’s time to attach the cross-banding strips. The cross-bands should be 1/2 inch (1 cm) wide and measure the same size as your guitar top squares. You will need to attach these strips by using thin nails or staples on one side of the strip.

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You will then flip over the cross-banding strip so that it is facing away from your guitar pieces and attach them with thin nails on the other side. The last step is to trim off any excess material from your cross banding strips.

Adding cross-banding strips to the top

Once you have your cross-banding strips, it’s time to attach them to the top. Doing so is similar to attaching a binding strip. You will now have 3 strips on each side of the guitar top. The first strip should be placed at the 4 inch (10 cm) mark, and then each new strip will overlap the previous one by about 1 inch (2.5 cm).

The last step is optional, but if you want a really nice finish, cover your strips with fabric or paper.

Finishing touches

After you have cut out the 12 inch (30 cm) pieces, it will be time to sand them. You should use a course grit sandpaper like a 120 or 180 and then work your way up to a very fine grit – something like 320 or even 400. You will need to make sure that the wood is as smooth as possible so that it will become easier for you to glue the cross-banding strips onto the top.

The last step before gluing on the cross-banding strips is to seal the wood with shellac. This is done by using a soft cloth and applying two thin coats of shellac evenly over the entire surface of the guitar top. Once you’ve finished this, it’s time for you to begin construction on your guitar body.

How to quilt top a guitar FAQS

What is the difference between guitar tops and soundboards?

A guitar top’s shape is more square, with more pronounced edges and corners. The thickness of a guitar top is also thinner than that of a soundboard, which means there are some key construction differences to keep in mind.

How do I measure out my pieces for the top?

First, you will need to mark out your two large square pieces for each side of the top; these should measure at least 12 inches (30 cm). Then, divide each piece into four smaller squares for the future cross-banding strips to attach to them. The first division should be done by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one corner and cutting diagonally across the 12 inch (30 cm) width. Next, you will make two more divisions – one on each side – 4 inches (10 cm) from each corner.

Conclusion

We hope you found this guide helpful and that you now have the knowledge to quilt your own guitar top. Maybe you will even be able to share your skills with someone else who may not know how to quilt a guitar top, or who can’t afford to have a guitar top quilted. Guitar tops are a beautiful part of the guitar and deserve to be given the best possible care.